Rabbit Trails Anyone?

Rabbit Trail 1

There was a lot of buzz on the Facebook airwaves yesterday about women in ministry, purpose, platform, and 99 etcetera’s. I found it fruitful and thought-provoking especially due to a message I heard (online) from Liberty University’s all-female convocation speaker, Melanie Denney. I think Melanie is a senior and a student shepherd. I KNOW she is anointed to preach the gospel because she brought the house down with some of the most in-your-face biblical truths I’ve heard in a very long time. She reminded me of a young, on-fire Joyce Meyer. Melanie, spoke TRUTH, plain and simple.

You want more intimacy with Christ? Plan for it. Make it happen. Turn off the distractions and get into His Word, His presence, and wait. He is there.

Do you want to hear God speak to you? Turn off the distractions. Get into His Word. Invite Him into your presence and wait. He will speak.

Do you want to be the recipient of God’s blessings? Surrender. Give in. Lay it down. Be obedient to what He tells you to do, even when it feels awkward and uncomfortable.

Ms. Denney also spoke on Holy Spirit – He is real and available. Don’t be afraid of the Holy Spirit! Bravo! Melanie Denney! Bravo!

__________________

Rabbit Trail 2

Then, in the afternoon, a FB group friend posted a question:

Is there room for women who know their gifts? Who want to work hard to put themselves in positions to share those gifts, and intentionally pursue what we were made to do? Why do we feel like we need to minimize and downplay our desire to serve in areas where we can make a real impact, especially if those areas involve being in the spotlight rather than safely behind the scenes where women are “supposed” to operate? Why does it feel calculating and selfish to put ourselves out there intentionally?

I made several pro-women-in-ministry comments and then this morning I thought about Anne Graham Lotz.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. Isaiah 61.1-3

Anne, a woman. A wife (widow). A Mom. A Grandma. An anointed woman of the most High God because the Lord appointed her to preach. To heal. To proclaim. To comfort. To console. To give. Why? So God Himself will be glorified.

___________________

Rabbit Trail 3

Today, a writer friend’s book is unveiled to the world. It’s All Under Control by Jennifer Dukes Lee. Mrs. Lee is a former news journalist who saw her future in the big city and a newsroom; however, today, she looks out the window of her rural Iowa home upon acres and acres of land, which her husband farms. Her two daughters, now teens, used to climb a yellow school bus and attend a rural country school.

The new book is her story how she, the proverbial “control freak,” realized it is in the relinquishing of control to her faithful heavenly Father that true peace and joy can flood one’s soul.

This morning (Tuesday) as I type these words I see the common denominator. Do you?

SO GOD HIMSELF WILL BE GLORIFIED.

Today, I am going to check my motives. I will ask the hard questions. I will look to see what distractions I need to get rid of. And, lastly, I will double-check my control issues.

1 Christian Voice

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